Axe with extensible handle



Mardi 20, 1956 c. w. HOELDTKE AXLE WITH ExTENsIBLE HANDLE Filed July 27, 1953 United States Patent() M AXE WITH EXTENSIBLE HANDLE Carl W. Hoeldtke, Albany, N. Y. Application July 27, 1953, Serial No. 370,283

4 Claims. (Cl. 145-64) This invention relates to improvements in hand tools, such as, for example, hand axes, or the like, having particular reference to such devices comprising a dual purpose, extensiblecontractable handle, whereby the same can be used alternately as a two-handed, or as a singlehanded implement, and the provision of such an improvement is the principal object of the invention.

Generally, it is an object of the invention to provide such a device which is simple, yet sturdy and durable of construction, economic of manufacture, relatively free from Wear and tear or other mechanical difculties, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is intended.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an axe, either single or double bladed, having a dual purpose handle, constituting a tubular extension portion integrally connected at one end to the head, and an'extensible-contractable portion slidably or reciprocably mounted within the tubular portion, both portions being so constructed and arranged with respect to each other that the second portion, when contracted, will remain in an out-of-the-way position, `whereby the device can be used as a single hand axe, or hatchet, and, when extended, will remain firmly and rigidly positioned at the opposite end of said tubular extension, whereby the device can thus be used as a two-handed axe.

Other specific objects of the invention are the provision of such a device in which the tubular portion is so constricted at its free `end to provide a socket in a manner such that it will grippingly and rigidly engage the inner end of the extensible-contractable portion; in which such dual purpose handle is provided withe means whereby said extensible-contractable portion, and tubular portion, are adapted to be held in contracted position to prevent vibration when the device is used as a single hand axe or hatchet; in which such means preferably comprises a spring-loaded detent element carried by the inner end of the extensible-contractable portion, and the tubular portion is provided, for example, with anopening therein to receive thedetent element lockingly to hold the same in contracted position; and in which the dual purpose handle preferably consists of a tapered tubular extension sleeve and a reciprocable handle mounted therein that is adapted at opposite ends grippingly to be engaged by the smaller or constricted portion of the tapered sleeve, when alternately used as a hatchet or twohanded axe.

Other objects of the invention will in part be Aobvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the follow ing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

2,738,815 Patented Mar. v20, 1956 ICC Fig. l is a side elevational view, with fragmentary portions broken away and partly in section, illustrating an embodiment of the invention with the dual purpose handle in contracted position for use as a single handed axe, or hatchet;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, partly in section, illustrating the dual purpose handle in extended position for use as a two-handed axe;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1, partly in section, taken along the transverse lines 3-3 and looking in the direc` tion of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 4 4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the inner end of the extensible-contractable handle portion.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is illustrated generally at 10, for example, an axe implement having an axe head 11 and, in this instance, a single edge cutting blade 12. In this particular embodiment there is shown a conventional axe head having a handle receiving opening 13 therethrough, although it will be understood that the invention need not be so restricted since a solid unapertured axe head can be provided.

A dual purpose handle 14 is secured to the axe head. Preferably, this comprises a tapered tubular extension sleeve portion 15 integrally connected at its end of larger diameter to the axe head in any suitable manner, such as, for example, by welding as indicated generally at 16. Where a conventional apertured type of head is used, in which the aperture is usually of oval or teardrop in cross section, a rod or reinforcing bar 17 is inserted therein beneath the sleeve 15 and Welded thereto as at 18, 18. Since the tapered sleeve is secured to the axe head at its area of greatest diameter, the portion of smaller diameter, or constrioted area, will be at its free or outer end which provides a socket portion indicated generally at 19 whereby to receive and hold the extensiblecontractable handle portion 20. It will be noted that the sleeve 15 preferably is oval in cross section since the same may be considered an extension of the head surrounding the aperture or eye of the axe head.

The extensible-contractable inner handle portion 20 is mounted manually to be reciprocated within Vthe sleeve 15 but not removable therefrom during ordinary use. In order to rigidify and strengthen the inner end of the inner handle portion, the same is made partly of metal. The metal portion is preferably secured to the wooden handle portion by slotting or bifurqating the latter as indicated generally at 21. The metal portion 22 consists of an extension of the wooden portion of the inner` handle and is flush therewith, being provided with a tongue 23 extending through the bifurcated portion 21. The metal and wooden portions are secured together by suitable dowel pins 24.

The metal portion 22 and the wooden handle adjacent to where it is flush with the metal portion are of a diameter which is slightly greater than the constricted socket area 19 of the tubular sleeve so that the inner handle when extended, will be firmly and grippingly engaged thereby. In this position the device can be used as a two-handed axe and will be found to be very sturdy and durable. There will be no telescoping during use because the outward centrifugal throw of .the axe will wedge the extended handle more firmly in position. However, when it is desired to contract the handle, a slight tap on the knob end 25 will readily permit the inner handle portion 20 to be moved back into the sleeve 15. It will be noted that there is a shoulder 26 at the knob end which will abut the outer end of the sleeve. However, in order to hold the inner handle firmly in contracted position the diameter of the inner handle 20 adjacent the shoulder Z6 is such that it will frictionally engage the constricted outer end of the tapered sleeve.

In order to hold the inner handle portion in contracted position, and against vibration, there is provided a locking means, preferably a detent 27, mounted in a shouldered recess 28 and outwardly urged by a spring 29 backed by a plug 30, preferably in the metal portion 22 of the inner handle to receive the detent 27. The sleeve adjacent thereto is provided with an opening therethrough as indicated generally at 31. When it is desired to extend the inner handle 21, it is but necessary to press the detent 27 out of the opening 3i, and, grasping the sleeve 15 adjacent the head 1l with one hand, and the knob 25 with the other, immediately pull the same to extended position whereby the inner end of the inner handle will become firmly seated in the socket or constricted area of the tapered metallic tube 15.

A device, such as an axe provided with such a dual purpose handle has many advantages. For example, it can be extended or contracted to be used either as a twohanded or single-handed axe or hatchet; and when retracted may conveniently be carried in a sheath, belt or holster, and be stored in more limited space. Where the conventional type of axe head is used with a handle aperture or eye, the inner handle can be made of suiiicient length to project therein and project slightly therethrough. It can then be tapped lightly to make it readily extensible. Where it projects beyond the aperture, it can easily be provided with frictional or other locking means thereon, other than the detent shown in the drawing and above described.

It will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readily and eiciently be attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is `intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, having a head with at least one cutting edge thereon, the improvement comprising a dual purpose handle, including a tubular extension sleeve handle integrally connected at one end to said head, and an extensible-contractable handle sldably mounted within said sleeve handle, said handles both being correspondingly oval in cross-section and so constructed and arranged with respect to each other that said extensible-contractable handle, when contracted, will remain in an out-of-the-way position within said sleeve handle, whereby said device can be used as a hatchet, and, when extended, will remain rmly and rigidly positioned at the opposite end of said tubular extension, whereby said device can be used as a twohanded axe, the free end of said tubular sleeve handle being constricted in a manner such that it will grippingly and rigidly engage the inner end of said extensible-contractable handle when the latter is in extended position, and frictionally engage the same, when in contracted position, adjacent its outer end, said inner handle having a corresponding increased cross-section at the inner and outer ends thereof for such engagement.

2. In a device of the character defined in claim l, and further characterized in that said extensible-contractable handle is provided with means on its inner end cooperatively associated with means on said tubular sleeve handle adjacent said head to hold the same in a contracted position against vibration when said device is used as a hatchet.

3. In a device according to claim 2, and wherein said iirst named means comprises a spring-loaded detent element carried by the inner end of said extensible-contractable handle, and said second means consists of an opening therein adjacent its inner end to receive said detent element, lockingly to hold said portion in contracted position.

4. In a device of the character described, having a head with at least one cutting edge thereon, the improvement comprising the combination therewith of a dual purpose handle, said handle constituting a tapered tubular extension sleeve handle that is oval in cross-section integrally connected at its end of larger diameter to said head; and an extensible-contractable inner handle also correspondingly oval in cross-section, mounted manually to be reciprocated within said sleeve, substantial parts of the inner and outer ends of said inner handle being of a diameter that is greater than a substantial part of the other and smaller end of said tapered tubular sleeve handle, so that the inner end of said inner handle, when extended, will be firmly and grippingly engaged by the smaller end of said sleeve, and, when contracted, a portion adjacent the outer end of said inner handle will be frictionally engaged by the smaller end of said sleeve; and locking means to hold said inner handle in contracted position, whereby said device is adapted alternately to be used respectively as a two-handed axe and a hatchet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 576,756 Cole Feb. 9, 1897 738,869 Wing Sept. 15, 1903 798,325 Daddysman Aug. 29, 1905 942,490 Dunn Dec. 7, 1909 1,253,700 McLaughlin Jan. 15, 1918 2,047,485 McBrady Iuly 14, 1936 

